Manila, Aug. 10 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), replacing Dr. Jose "Brix" Pujalte Jr., Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Monday.

Castro said Pujalte "voluntarily resigned" due to health reasons.

Pujalte was appointed DOH secretary only in July, succeeding former DOH secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

Pujalte's brief stint at the DOH came amid a complaint against him that had been elevated from the Presidential Complaint Center to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The complaint reportedly included allegations involving the procurement of tuberculosis-re...